A first heavy rain can expose a blocked drain that was invisible through a dry summer. For a hotel, the practical question is not simply whether a drain exists, but whether roof outlets, gullies, downpipes and discharge routes remain clear, accessible and understood by the team. A planned inspection can find maintenance needs before water disrupts guests or operations. For the wider operating context, see hotel owners | hotel operations | the Feathers Hospitality approach.
The Feathers Hospitality approach connects this decision with the property’s context and operating model. Learn about the Feathers Hospitality approach.
At a glance
- Map drainage routes and known trouble spots before the wet period.
- Inspect safely from accessible areas and escalate defects to qualified people.
- Use weather forecasts to plan work, not to guarantee local conditions.
Map what the property depends on
Start with drawings, maintenance records and a walk-through with the facilities lead. Identify roof outlets, gutters, downpipes, external gullies, surface channels, low points and where water is meant to go. Mark areas above guest rooms, entrances, plant spaces and service routes where a leak or ponding would have a larger impact.
Record access constraints and assets that require specialist equipment. Do not assume that a drain visible at ground level is the only route serving a roof or courtyard. If drawings are missing or the layout has changed, ask a qualified building professional to help verify the path before the inspection plan is finalised.
Choose timing from local conditions and work windows
Use the property’s own history of leaks, blockages and call-outs to decide when to inspect. A pre-season check can allow planned access, but inspection should also follow nearby construction, roof work, high winds or reports of water ingress. The IPMA provides short-range and seasonal forecast products, with different confidence and time horizons.
A seasonal outlook is not a prediction of what will happen at one building on one day. Check current local forecasts when planning outdoor work and avoid exposing staff to unsafe roof access or severe weather. Keep a contingency for urgent observations after a storm, once the area can be inspected safely.
Check visible condition without taking unsafe shortcuts
From a safe, authorised position, look for debris, standing water, damaged covers, loose grilles, unusual staining, disconnected downpipes and overflow marks. Note whether water can reach guest paths or door thresholds. A visual check can reveal warning signs; it cannot certify that an underground pipe is clear or structurally sound.
Never climb onto a roof, enter a confined space or remove a heavy grate without the training, equipment and work control required. Assign specialist inspections where access or diagnosis requires them. Record who inspected, where, when, conditions observed and any limitation that prevented a full check.
Connect the inspection to work orders and guest impact
Create a work order for each defect with a location, photograph if safe, impact, priority, owner and next step. Link repeat reports to the same asset so the team can see a pattern. A note saying “drain checked” is not useful if it does not explain what was checked or what remains uncertain.
If work may affect entrances, parking or an occupied room, coordinate timing and guest communication. Keep a temporary control in place only under the responsible person’s advice, and record when it must be reviewed. Escalate any water ingress near electrical equipment or critical systems through the property’s emergency process.
Check contractor scope and completion
When external support is needed, describe the drain or area, symptoms, access and requested outcome. Confirm who arranges permits or access, who protects guest routes and who accepts the work. The RICS technical due-diligence guidance treats inspection as an evidence-gathering activity; use it as a planning reference, not as a substitute for a site-specific survey.
Ask for a clear report of findings, any cleaning or repair completed, unresolved defects and recommended follow-up. The person closing the work order should verify the agreed result. An invoice or a contractor’s verbal assurance is not the same as evidence that the cause of recurring water has been found.
Use records to improve the next wet-season plan
After significant rain, compare new observations with the asset map and prior work orders. Repeated ponding at the same point can indicate a capacity, grading or maintenance issue that routine clearing will not solve. Record which temporary measures helped and whether they created another access or safety problem.
Review the plan with facilities, housekeeping, reception and the relevant owner representative. The UK Government property standard is a management reference for its own context; apply Portuguese requirements and the building’s technical advice locally. Keep dates, responsibilities and open risks visible so the next team does not repeat an incomplete inspection.
Frequently asked questions
Does a seasonal forecast tell a hotel when flooding will happen?
No. It describes broad probabilities or conditions over a region and period. Use current local forecasts and building-specific assessment for operational decisions.
Can hotel staff clear every drain themselves?
Only if the task is safe and within their training and authority. Roof, confined-space, structural or specialist work should be assigned appropriately.